Roller-truck frame for tractors



' ROLLER TRUCK FRAME FOR TRACTORS v y Filed sent 16 191s s'sheets-sheet' www N A TTORNEYS Patented Aug. 15, .1924.

EMIL F. NORELIUS, 0F PEOR-IA, IILINOIS, I LSSIGN'ORk TO THE HQLTMANUFACTURING COM'PANY, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OFCALIFORNIA.

ROLLER-TRUCK FRAME FOR TRACTORS.

I T 0 all whom 'it concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL F. NoRELrUs, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county ofPeoria and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvementslin Roller-Truck Frames for Tractors, of which the following is aspecification. t

This invention relates to tractors of the vchain track type, and moreespecially to a struction; this novel connecting means being preferablyof light or pressed steelconstruction also.` On account of the shape ofthe `truck frame, enclosed as it is above the rollers, I provide novelmeans for shifting the front idler wheel of the truck fore and aft forthe purpose of taking up slack in the track.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 .shows a side elevation of a tractor embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of a roller truck Vmechanism embodying myinvention.

Fig. 3 shows a plan view, in section, of the device shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows a rear elevation of the device shoiivn in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 shows a sectional view, taken on the` line 5 5 ofF ig. 2 andillustrating the means for shifting the front idler fore and aft.

Fig. 6 shows a detail, sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.1

Fig. 7 shows a sectional view, taken on l theline 7-7 of Fig. 2,V thetruck rollers having been omitted for the sake of simplicity. A f.

Figs. 8 and 9 show detail views exemplifying a modifiedarrangement,.wherein rollers may be employed at the upper edge of thetruck frame to support the upper run of the chain track in lieu -of thewearing plate lshown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 shows a schematic view of the forward support for themain frameupon the. truck mechanism.

Fig. 11 shows a similar View of the rear support.

Fig. 12 taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

The tractor to which my invention is applied comprises the usual mainframe, at opposite sides of which are roller truck mechanisms, theseroller truck mechanisms comprising Vin general a. chaintrack 10, atoothed sprocket wheel 11 for operating said track, an idler sprocketwheel 12, over which said track operates Aat its forward end, and aseries of supporting rollers 13. The idler sprocket wheel 12 and thesupporting rollers .13 are carried upon a roller truck frame,

comprising side plates 14, spaced apart at their lower edges to receivethe rollers and sprocket wheel between it and form journal supports forthe latter.

These side plates 14, in the present invention, are formed of pressedsteel and so shaped that they are made to contact at theirupper edges,thereby completely housing or covering the supporting rollers above. Atthe front and rear edges and also at the lower edges of the side plates14 are` formed marginal flanges 15 which serve to reinforce andstrengthen these side plates. the upper edges of the side plates aflange or rail 16 is arranged, which rail preferably is detachablyconnected to the side plates and serves as a support for the upper runof the chain track.

In place of the supporting rail 16 I may employ rollers 17, as shown inFigs. 8 and 9. The supporting rollers 13 are preferably journaled4 inbearings 18 secured to the bottom flanges 15 of the side plates. Theidler sprocket wheel 12 is'journaled in bearings 19 which are slidablymounted in slots 20, formed by cutting away the side plate and pressingthe material thereof outwardly to form flanges 21. The purpose of theseslots is to permit adjustment `of the tension of the chain track byshifting the front idler fore and aft. This idler sprocket wheel is heldin place by means of a yoke-22`extending rearwardly and having a screwconnection with a transverse shaft 23 journaled on the side plate. Thisshaft 28 is adapted to -shows a detail, sectional view,

be operated from the exterior of the truck .frame to facilitate theadjustment of the idler wheel. p

lVith lightAv truck frames, as shown and described herein, it ispreferable to employ special suspension means for the main frame. Thissuspension means is shown in Figs. 10 and 11 where it will be seen Ihave provided a leaf Spring 24 connected by shackles to opposite truckframes near the lower edges of the latter; the main frame 1n turn beinglfastened rigidly to the lealI spring 24 by means of clips 25. The saidshackles are supported on the truck frames by brackets 2112 Thesuspension means at the torward end of the main frame comprises atransversely extending equalizer bar, also in the form of a leaf spring26, connected by shackles to opposite truck frames and t having vapivotal connection 27 with the main frame. Brackets 26a similar to thebrackets 24a are used to. connect said last-v named shackles to thetruck frames. This arrangement provides a three-point suspension for themain frame and eliminates excessive strains and twists throughout.However, in connection with this form of suspension, itis necessary toprovide special means to connect opposite truck mechanisms; together, sothat they will retain their parallel rela-tion, said connecting means atthe the same time permitting independent rockving movement of thesetruck mechanisms.

This connecting means is shown in Fig. 7, where it will be seen tocomprise a tubular shaft 28, extending transversely and passing throughopposite truck frames; the truck frames being journaled upon'this shaft28 .by means of separate sleeves 29. vConsequently, the truck mechanismsare free'to rock independently and, due to the long bearing surfaceaforded by the sleeves 29, they are held effectively in parallelrelation.

Such a construction as is disclosed herein is admirably suited forsmall, light tractors such as are used inorchards and small farms. Thetruck frame so encloses the rollers and connected parts as to protectthem from the dirt and trash, and this enclosed effect enhances theappearance of the tractor and presents a simple and neat effect. The

. suspension of the main `frame is carried 'low' on the truck mechanismsandthis permits a reduction in the height of the tractor, a thmg to bedesired in orchard work. The

.truck frame is easy to produce,` therebeing a minlmum of maehlne workinvolved.

Various changes in the construction and arrangement` of the severalparts herein shown and described may beemployed without departing fromthe spirit of my invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

It will be noted that where the upper edges of the opposite side platesof the roller ltruck frame are brought together a stiffening web 14 Visformed which adds considerably to the strength ot' the truck frame. Alsothis form of truck frame provides steeply sloping walls at yeach sidewhich serve t0 deflect any mud falling thereon and prevent accumulationof dbris at thev top ofthe roller truck frame. stood that where tractorsof this type are operated in soft ground the track shoes carry with themconsiderable 'mud and dirt which is dropped from the upper run of thetrack and falls upon the truck frame be- `I claim and desire to secureby Letters Pat- 1. A roller truck iframe for chain track tractors formedof pressed steel side plates contacting at their upper edges, and spaced-apart at their lower edges to receive the truck rollers between them.

2. A roller truck frame for chain track tractors formed of pressed steelside plates contacting at th'e'ir upper edges and spaced apart at theirlower edges toreceive the truck rollers between them, and flangesarranged at the marginal edges of the side plates to strengthen andreinforce the latter, the flange at the upper marginal edgesconstituting also a guide rail for the upper run of the track.

3. A roller truck frame having spaced side plates to receive thelsupporting rollers between said plates, being brought together at theirupper edges to cover the rollers above, an idler wheel at the forwardend of the side plates over which the 4track runs, said idler `wheelbeing journaled in bearings slidable inr slots foi-ined in said' sideplates, and adjusting means operable from the exterior oi' theenclosed'side plates forshifting said idler wheel back and forth. j

j 4. In a vehicle, tractor truck mechanism comprising a truck frame'carrying a plu- It will be undercom risin a truck' frame carr ino" alurality 'of rollers, a pair of sprocket Wheels and an endless chaintrack operating upon said sprocket Wheels and passing beneath saidrollers, said truck frame being formed.

of a pair of spaced side plates between which the support-ing rollersare journaled, said side plates being brought together'at their upperedges, side plates serving .to form a stiening Web at thetop of. theframe.

6. In a tractor -o the chain track .type a main frame, a roller .truckmechanism at each side thereof each including a 'frame formed ofspacedside plates havingtheir the meeting edges of opposite upper edgessloping inwardly and terminating in anarrow ridge at the top,transversely extending load supporting connections near each. end of themain frame, a bracket on the inside truck fraine plates near each endthereof and connections between said brackets and load supportingconnections.

In testimony whereof I have hereuntoset my hand in the presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

EMIL F. NORELDUS.

Witnesses: p

- FRED Gno'rrs,

WILLIAM TURNBULL.

